Bearing Good Fruit – Beloved Women – December 12, 2023
READ: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit…The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43, 45 ESV)
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: “Only God can judge me”, it has been said. While it is true that in the end, only God has the authority to pronounce final judgment, other people are fully capable of looking at one’s actions to determine if the fruit being produced is consistent with the tree.
Looking for apples on an apple tree is a reasonable expectation. Finding cherries would be disappointing on one side of the spectrum, frustrating and confusing on the other. And, it’s impossible. Or, perhaps it means that the tree was misidentified in the first place.
So it is with those of us who profess to be followers of Christ. We are to be accurate, good, albeit imperfect, representations of the God we say we love and follow. Not doing so can cause disappointment, frustration and confusion.
We are not talking about a legalistic examination of some type of religious checklist, like the amount of time you spend in church on a Sunday, or what you wear. This is an issue of what treasure is stored up in our hearts – our character. Is our love for God and love for others evident in our speech and actions, towards all, not only those with whom we are comfortable? Do people know that we are His disciples by our love towards one another?
PRAY: Lord, I confess my fruit does not always match my tree. Forgive me. Forgive me for the ways in which I have caused disappointment, frustration and confusion in others in my actions and speech. Lord, help me to bear fruit that matches who I profess to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
REFLECT: Can it be said, especially in tense situations, “There is something different about her”, and it is a testament to good treasure from your heart? For those who spend time with you, is your fruit evident if you never announce what type of tree you are?
CONNECT: Find more encouragement from Kim Gillespie on Instagram @kimgillespie03.
© 2020 by Kim Gillespie. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 12 December 2023.
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